ANALYSIS OF RADAR BACKSCATTER FROM OIL-COVERED SEA SURFACE USING NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Abstract

Radar backscatter of an oil-spilled sea surface can be calculated by a microwave scattering model using moment method (MoM) and Monte-Carlo technique for various conditions of surface roughness, frequency, polarization, incidence angle, oil-layer thickness, and dielectric constant. In order to estimate radar backscatter, a one-dimensional random rough surface is numerically simulated with different ocean-wave spectra including Pierson-Moskwitz and JONSWAP spectra as reported in the previous studies. In this paper, we compare the simulated X-band radar backscatter with TerraSAR-X data (ScanSAR mode, VV-polarization) acquired on December 12, 2007. The comparison result shows that the radar backscattering coefficients using JONSWAP spectrum agrees well with the measured data than those using the PM spectrum.-layer thickness, and dielectric constant. In order to estimate radar backscatter, a one-dimensional random rough surface is numerically simulated with different ocean-wave spectra including Pierson-Moskwitz and JONSWAP spectra as reported in the previous studies. In this paper, we compare the simulated X-band radar backscatter with TerraSAR-X data (ScanSAR mode, VV-polarization) acquired on December 12, 2007. The comparison result shows that the radar backscattering coefficients using JONSWAP spectrum agrees well with the measured data than those using the PM spectrum.